This is for all of you whom say there are no similarities between Catholicism and Paganism... dare to read?

Question

When doing a ritual, *most* Pagans (eclectics) use each of the elements... Fire, Air, Water, Earth. Look at what the Catholics use:

Candles - Fire
Incense - Air
Holy Water - Water
Eucharist - Earth

Both do their "rituals" on an ALTAR, which is usually covered in an altar cloth.

The Catholic Mass (ritual) ends with giving thanks to God. Pagans end with giving thanks to the Gods, elementals, and directions. But, still, nonetheless, they both give thanks to their deities.

Before anybody claims Paganism is copying Catholicism, Paganism has been around since 10000 BCE (Before Common Era aka BC) while Monotheism came around in 5000 BCE. The Bible came around in 400 CE (Common Era, aka AD).

So, what do you think about the similarities? I know they are different religions, but, there ARE some similarities.

Modern Pagans don't do any living sacrificies, Pleeks. No human or animal sacrifices. e_e Unless they live in like African or Australian Tribes.

Answer 1

You forgot the simple feast/communion.
But what's the point, really? Why does it matter? My best friend is Catholic it doesn't matter to us.

Answer 2

I saw a car sticker that is so totaly right - christianty has pagan dna.
I was brought up a catholic, turned protestant then found my true self through paganism.
There are similarities because the church knew that aswell as forcing their religion onto people they had to make it a little palitable, easter for example is a celebration of Eastre, or Ostara, a Goddess of the Germanic pantheon. The 12 days of xmas? Try the 12 days of Yule thankyou very much!
And the person who previously posted saying catholicism answers questions paganism can't, sorry but that is incorrect. When was the last time you questioned a member of the church? I saw a poster outside a local church quoting the bible and saying we shouldn't think for ourselves but let Jesus do it for us. Be afraid. Be very afraid!

Answer 3

Uh, first off, anyone saying Catholicism isn't Christianity needs to seriously read up on really basic church history over the last, oh, even 5-600 years.

And, well, yeah. A lot of Catholicism was co-opted from the practices of the Roman religions of the time. The Holy Roman Church, as it's still called, came from the Roman Empire and one emperor--Constantine--calling the shots on it. Nobody had a "different" way to practice religion then, and none of it really changed until Martin Luther came along. It was just business as usual with a different doctrine behind it. This is pretty basic church history, all of it.

Answer 4

If you look at most religions, what they all have in common is the birth/death/resurrection of the sun god. Christmas, Easter, and other celebrations are based on the passage of the time into various ages. When you look ate the image of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child, there is a far older image (looks the same) found in Babylon and Egypt. It is the goddess Semiramis holding Tamuz. There are many similarities which one has to look at. Christianity and Catholicism are based on paganism and you can plainly see this by looking at the symbolism. That is the true language. Most doctrine is interpretation of those symbols. Which is taken at face value because most people have no understanding of the meaning of symbolic laguage, so they allow another to do it for them.

Answer 5

Actually the early Jewish faith has been around for about the same time as Paganism. Abraham came out of Ur, and travellaed extensively amongst the polytheistic societies of his day (Cannanites and Egyptians).

As far as the Roman church is concerned a lot of their practices were meant to atract followers amongst the pagan worshipers of the early Christian era, so that is why there are a lot of similarities. Christmas is a pagan festival, so are a lot of the high days.

Modern pagans used only the most basic outline of the ancient pagan practices, must like Jews only use an outline of the ancient Jewish religion - urgo there are no more animal sacrifices for example.

Answer 6

Jesus by no means spoke agains it. IF you keep to the entire Catholic culture you can not deny that actually Jesus as soon as stated to the First Pope, Get at the back of me Satan. Nobody denies there are saints, the query is what constitutes one and what's their intent in God's Plan. The Pope does not make a Saint, he publicizes that a man or woman is a Saint, which means anything completely distinctive out of your characterization. Protestants refer at all times to unofficial saints (my departed sainted Mother, for instance). Your diferentiation among the Bible phrases and what the ones phrases coach, units off my fundamentalist alarm. Theology is simply the Bible elaborated, installed modern-day and culturally-touchy language. I do not believe even Anglicans or Orthodox might abide you there. That is obvious foolish. As to the Mass...I concept you had been a Catholic. You going to sleep is a mark in opposition to you no longer the Mass. IF it's what the Church says, the fault is with you. As to Catholic vacations, that is what makes me deeply suspect that you're mendacity approximately ever having been a Catholic. The the very first thing you gain knowledge of in Church History is that the Church deliberately picked Pagan feastdays in order to not tempt Pagan converts while the time rolled round and all their ancient peers had been celebrating anything. This is specific within the Church Fathers. Lying is a sin even supposing you do not like Catholics. Shame on you.

Answer 7

the only real basic difference between any religious belief system and another are the ritual and ceremonies each perform. this is true in any Christian ( which the Catholics are a denomination of ) and pagan religions. there are similarities of all religions and can not see what the main problem in accepting any particular way of worship. we all get to the same destination whether we walk, ride a bike, motorcycle, take a bus, train, plane, car, etc. etc. etc. getting to the destination is the important thing not how we arrive.

Answer 8

--is Catholic--

I think you need to do some studies in comparative religion. There are similarities in EVERY religion because all religions are trying to develop and re-establish the lost communion with God. They are remembrances of the long distant past warped and modified by the passage of time and the condition of fallen humanity.

You might really enjoy these works
THE IDEA OF THE HOLY
THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE

For Catholicism let me suggest that you buy this book
THE FOUNDING OF CHRISTENDOM by Carroll which lays out history and the history of the world religions in accord with Catholic thought.
I would also suggest
THE EVERLASTING MAN by Chesterton

All religions in one way or another point towards Catholicism. What is shadow and mimicry in paganism is light and form in Catholicism. The questions that paganism asks are answered by Catholicism. This is because Catholicism is the fulfillment of the revealing of God to humanity through the Jewish covenant. God re-established what was lost and transformed the relationship between God and man into something far greater than the lost religion through Christ. God has revealed Himself and entered into a profound bound with humanity.

Answer 9

Hi Megami! Where you been lately?

You are right, but not only about Catholicism. Xtianity as a whole is an ancient pagan religion. The ideas and theologies of heaven, hell, salvation, baptism, eucharist, virgin births, dying and rising gods have all been around for thousands of years before monotheism. Take a gander at the following website for info on the PAGAN Origins of the Christ MYTH.

http://www.medmalexperts.com/POCM/getting_started_pocm.html

Answer 10

I completely agree with you about Catholicism. but then again, Catholicism is not of the Messiah Yeshua. Basically, there is nothing in common with the Truth of my God--- and Paganism. The truth of my God is rare around here. *Peace to you.